Miniature Smooth Haired Dachshund

The Miniature Smooth Haired Dachshund is a small, compact dog. It is a short-legged dog, set low to the ground with an elongated body. The Miniature Smooth Haired Dachshund is the most popular Dachshund of the 6 varieties available, and forms part of the hound group.

Miniature Smooth Haired Dachshund Breed Group

Hound

Colour Varieties of the Miniature Smooth Haired Dachshund

The breed comes in an assortment of colours and markings including:

Black & Tan

Chocolate & Tan

Chocolate Dapple

Red

Shaded Red

Silver Dapple

Country of Origin

Germany

The Miniature Smooth Haired Dachshund through History

A very old breed with similar type dogs depicted in drawings in Ancient Egypt.The Dachshund was sent down to ground to hunt rabbits and badgers. Their wide front paws perfect for digging, and the Dachshund small enough to enter holes making it a good and efficient hunter.

Miniature Smooth Haired Dachshund Breed introduction and overview

The MSHD is a small dog with short legs and distinctive long body. Dachshunds are available in many varieties, which can seem confusing to the prospective new owner, so here’s a simple guide andexplanation to all the different varieties available:

There are 2 sizes of Dachshund, miniature and standard, and the word standard is commonly dropped.

There are 3 different coats available, these are the smooth, wire and long coats.

There are standard and miniature sizes of Dachshund, available, in the 3 different coats, making a total of 6 varieties!

So, the 6 varieties of Dachshund are:

Smooth Hair Miniature

Smooth Hair Standard

Long Hair Miniature

Long Hair Standard

Wire Hair Miniature

Wire Hair Standard

The Miniature Smooth Haired Dachshund is also known as the Badger Dog, and of course the sausage dog. It’s an intelligent, confident and strong willed dog for its size.

Size and weight of the Miniature Smooth Haired Dachshund

Height bitch 13-18cms

Height dog 13-18cms

Weight (kilos) bitch 3.6-5kgs

Weight (kilos) dog 3.6-5kgs

Exercise requirements of the Miniature Smooth Haired Dachshund

The Dachshund requires at least an hour of exercise every day. It’s a breed that can suffer from unwanted and destructive behaviour such as separation anxiety if it does not receive adequate levels of physical activity and stimulation.

The Dachshund can be disobedient outside, especially if he finds an interesting scent. Poor recall, roaming and running off are all common problems in the Dachshund.

Care should be taken to ensure your Dachshund does not jump up and down excessively, due to the risk of injury to the spine. Avoid walking in areas with steep drops or steps.

Miniature Smooth Haired Dachshund temperament, socialisation with children, other dogs and other pets
The Dachshund is generally placid, loving and sociable around the home, making it a good family dog. It normally gets along well with children, but does not enjoy boisterous atmospheres or rough handling. Youngsters should be taught to play gently, and avoid activities that may injure the dog, such as carrying it and dropping it from any height.

The Dachshund will often not tolerate cats, and exposure to smaller pets is not advisable either due to the strong prey drive of this breed.

Is the Miniature Smooth Haired Dachshund a good dog for a first time dog owner?

No. The Dachshund is not suggested for a novice owner. The dog is difficult to train and can be stubborn and disobedient. It is best suited to an owner with experience of the breed.

Miniature Smooth Haired Dachshund coat length

Short.

Grooming requirements of the Miniature Smooth Haired Dachshund

Low. The coat requires minimal grooming, but a polish with a chamois leather will add a beautiful shine to the short coat. Ears should be checked and cleaned regularly.

Hypoallergenic?

No. The MSHD sheds hair steadily throughout the year, making it an unsuitable choice of dog for allergy sufferers.

Health Issues in the Miniature Smooth Haired Dachshund

The breed sadly comes with many potential health issues. Do talk to your breeder about problems that have been noted in the breed:

Thyroid problems

Epilepsy

Spinal problems

Allergies

Patellar luxation

Obesity

Progressive Retinal Atrophy

As with all pedigree dogs, it is very important to obtain a puppy from a reputable source where you can be guaranteed that it has been bred with a view to avoiding the inherent physical and psychological diseases of the breed.

Average lifespan of the Miniature Smooth Haired Dachshund

A healthy Dachshund should expect to enjoy a life expectancy of between 12-13 years.

Approximate Miniature Smooth Haired Dachshund pedigree puppy price

Expect to pay around £550 for a puppy, and litters are often available. There were 3,450 Miniature Smooth Haired Dachshund puppies registered with the Kennel Club in 2015.

There are generally 4-8 puppies in an average litter.

Estimating how much a Miniature Smooth Haired Dachshund would need to be fed each day and estimated weekly cost

A bitch or dog weighing 5kgs requires around 123gms of complete dry food per day.

The cost of feeding a 5kgs bitch or dog is around £3.00 per week.

Our figures are based on feeding an ‘above average quality’ and popular complete dry food bought from a leading supermarket. A good quality feed is suggested for the energetic dogs in the hound group.

Other financial costs to consider when owning any dog breed

Remember to budget for essential pet treatments and procedures that are not covered by pet insurance policies including: